May A Christian Touch The Qur'an?

Question :

Is it permissible for a Christian to touch the Qur'an? And what about a copy of the Qur'an's translation?

Answer:

Scholars differ in this matter, though the correct opinion among the people of knowledge is that neither the Christians, nor the Jews, nor the rest of the disbelievers are permitted to touch the Qur'an. The Messenger ﷺ forbade his Companions from travelling to the lands of the enemy with a copy of the Qur'an, saying:
"So that their hands do not reach it."

This shows that they should not be permitted to touch it: they should only be permitted to listen to it:
"And if anyone of the idolaters seeks your protection then grant him protection, so that he may hear the word of Allah (the Qur'an).

"So that he may hear," means: you should recite the Qur'an to the disbeliever, so that he may hear it, and not that you should give him a copy of the Qur'an. Some scholars, however, rule that if you hope that he will accept Islam, it is permissible to give a disbeliever the Qur'an. They argue that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ wrote to the Emperor of Rome, he included in his letter this verse:

"Say: O people of the scripture (Jews and Christians): come to a word that is just between us and you."

They say: "This verse is from the Qur'an, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent it to the Emperor of Rome." But there is no proof in this, it only proves that it is allowed to write to them with a verse or two verses of the Qur'an. As for giving a copy of the Mushaf, it is not confirmed from him.

As for books that contain translations of the Qur'an, there is no harm if disbelievers touch them, because they are explanations of the Qur'an and not the Qur'an itself, so it is a translation of the meanings of Qur'an. When a disbeliever touches it or, one who is not in a state of purity, then there is no problem, because it does not fall under the same rules as the Qur'an. The rules regarding the Qur'an are specific, in that they are written in Arabic, and appears alone, without the Tafsir. But if it is accompanied by a translation, then the ruling is the same as that for Tafsir.

Therefore, it is allowed for the Muslim in a state of impurity, or a disbeliever to hold a Tafsir, since it is not the Qur'an.